Insulated nail



1951 N. c. RUBLEE 2,564,176

INSULATED NAIL Filed March 17, 1948 IN V EN TOR. A/OAWAA/ 6? P05 1. 5

Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT Q F'FICE INSULATED NAIL "Normanonubie, Fitchburg, Mass. Application March 17, 1948, SerialNo. 15,369

I Claims. 1

This invention relates to an insulated nail and more particularly to a nail for securing electric wires along the surface of walls and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a nail having a head which is wide enough to engage and secure two or more such wires and to hold them against relative displacement.

A further object is to provide a nail with a head which may be used in one position to secure two wires, and in another position to secure three wires.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view bodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of said nail, with the head shown in central vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of said nail showing the same as used for fastening three wires.

Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the nail as used for fastening two wires.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved insulated nail preferably comprises a metallic shank 5 having a head 6, of suitable insulating material such as a plastic or the like, which is adapted to overlie a plurality of wires so as to secure them in place.

The said head is preferably oblong in shape and has, at the bottom surface thereof, a plurality of depending prongs l which are located at each corner of the head to engage the said wires and retain them in position and against displacement.

In the position shown in Fig. 3, the said head is used for fastening three wires A, B and C and is placed with its longitudinal axis crosswise to the said wires so that the prongs 1 will engage the outer edges of each of the outside wires A and C and retain them against displacement. There is also provided in the bottom of said head an additional prong 8 which is opposite to the shank, across the transverse axis of the head, and will fit between the two wires B and C. As shown, the wire A will therefore be held in position between the prongs and the shank 5, and the wire B will be held between the said shank and the prong 8, and the wire C will be held between the said prong 8 and the prongs 1. Each of said wires will therefOre be secured against a surface under the head, and against displacement relatively to said head and to each other so that they will be spaced apart from each other to prevent possible short circuits.

In the illustration in Fig. 4, the said insulated of an insulated nail emnail is used for fastening two wires D and E and the head of the nail is placed with its longitudinal axis running lengthwise to the wires. The said wires are therefore held between the prongs 7 at the opposite sides of the head and the shank 5. When the head is used in this position, the prong 8 is practically ineffective and fits between the two wires.

In order to prevent short circuits through the metallic shank 5, the head 6, which is of insulating material, may be provided with a boss 9 that surrounds the upper portion of the shank to insulate the wires therefrom.

It will be understood from the above description that my invention provides an insulating nail having a head which is oiT center, With relation to the shank, so that the said nail may be conveniently used for securing diiferent numbers of wires and retaining them in position and spaced from each other by simply placing the head either crosswise or lengthwise to the wires whereby the edges of the head will not project beyond the sides of the wires more than necessary and thus permit saving of space when the nail is used with a lesser number of wires as illustrated in Fig. 4.

I claim:

1. An insulating nail comprising a metallic shank having a head of insulating material; the said head being oblong in shape and the said shank being positioned at one side of the transverse axis of said head, and a plurality of bosses depending from the bottom surface of the head; the said bosses being spaced from the shank to retain a certain number of wires in spaced position against a surface when the head is positioned with its longitudinal axis extending longitudinally of the wires and to retain a larger number of wires in said position when the head is positioned with the said axis extending transversely of the wires.

2. A nail of the character described comprising a shank having a head of elongated shape, and a plurality of bosses depending from the bottom surface of the head and spaced from the shank; one of said bosses being located at each corner of the head, and another of said bosses being located on the longitudinal axis of the head and between one end of the head and the shank.

3. A nail of the character described comprising a shank having a head of an elongated shape; the said shank being located upon the longitudinal axis of the head and at one side of the transverse axi thereof, and a plurality of bosses dependin from the underside of said head; the

. said bosses being located one at each corner of the head and one upon the longitudinal axis of the head and at the opposite side of the transverse axis, thereof from said shank.

4. A nail of the character described comprising a shank having a head thereon of oblong shape, the said shank being on the longitudinal axis of the head and off center relatively thereto, whereby the said head may be turned in one direction for securing two wires and in a crosswise direction for securing three wires in position, and a plurality of bosses depending from the underside of said head for engaging the said wire and retaining them in spaced relation and against displacement.

5. A nail of the character described comprising a shank having a head of oblong shape thereon, the said shank being located all center relatively to the head, whereby the said head may be turned in one direction for fastening two wires and in a crosswise direction for fastening three wires to a surface, a pair of prongs located at each of the opposite ends of said head, and a separate prong located between the said shank and the prongs at the end of the head farthest from the shank.

- NORMAN C. RUBLEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following'references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

